Rotary-engine.



F. A. GLEVELAND.

BOTARY ENGINE. APPLIOATION PILD Nov. 2a, 190m Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

F. A. GLEVELAND.

' 'BoTABY ENGINB. APPLICATION FILD NOV'. 23, 1906.

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FREDERIOK A. CLEVELAND, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

ROTARY ENGINE.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 19, 1909.

Application filed November 23, 1906. Serial No. 344,744.

To all whom it may concem:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. CLEvn- Linn, a citizen of the United States, and resident of the city of N ew York, in the county of New York and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful inprovements in Rotary Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates toV rota-ry engines, the object being to provide a construction for an engine of this type in which the steam operates constantly upon one or more pistons to produce a continuous rotary nioveinent.

n the form of engine I have adopted to illustrate my invention in this application I have provided a number of coperating rotary cylinder cores positioned in cylindrical chambers. These rotary cylinder cores are each provided with a projection or Wing against which the steam operates to impart a rotary movemcnt to their respective cylinder cores. An intermediate abutting core is so positioned as to rotate in contact with each of the cylinder cores. A recess is provided in the abutting core of such a shape that the projections or wings on the cylinder cores may pass therethrough in contact with the wall thereof in order to permit a complete rotation of the same and for the purpose of retaining and preventing excessive wear in the packing at the end of the Wing. The several cores are operatively connected .together by suitable mechanism and rotate together relatively so that the projections froiu the several cylinder cores and the recess in the intermediate abutting core will come together at the proper points to perinit the projections to pass successively through the recess as stated. .At other points in the circle of rotation the outer end` of the projections or wings are in.

contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical chambers in which each of the aforesaid cylinder' cores are positioned, thus providing a closed joint and also providing for a continuous rotation of the cylinder cores.

An inclosure will be formed at either side of the projections or wings and valves of peculiar construction, which will be more fully described hereinafter, are provided for admitting steam to either of these inclosures to 'produce a rotation ofthe cylinder cores in either direction as may be desired. Exhaust valves of peculiar construction, which will be more fully described hereinafter, are also provided which open automatically at the proper points to permit the escape of the steam. By placing several sets of these cylinders end to end on common shafts and arranging the valves controlling the inlet and outlet of the steam to the several sets of cylinders in such a manner that the steam is Operating on opposite sides of the shaft in different sets of the cylinders, I obtain a balancing of the side thrust and produce an even and smooth rotation which results in a great saving in losses due to friction and also in wear upon the bearings. As the steam is admitted at different points in the rotation of the several cylinders of each set it will be evident that one of the cylinders Will always be in a position to be operated upon when the steam is admitted and, consequently, dead Centers are avoided and the engine may be started at any point.

Other objects will be in part obvious and will in part appear hereinafter in connection with the description of the engine illustrated in the accompanying drawings as one embodiment of my invention.

Like parts in the several views have been given similar reference numbers.

F igure 1 is an end view of an engine embodying my invention showing the valve operating and reversing mechanlsm. Fig. 2 1s a vertlcal central section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows. o

At 1 is indicated a suitable base or support .upon which is mounted a casing or housing 2. In this casing or housing I have provided three cylindrical chambers 3, 11 and 5 in which are mounted sets of cylinder cores, such as 6, 7 and 8, respectively. An intermediate abutting core 9 is mounted so as to rotate in contact with each of the aforesaid cylinder cores 6, 7 and 8, as shown in Fig. 3. The cylinder core 6 is mounted upon a shaft 10, the cylinder core 7 upon a shaft 11, the cylinder core 8 upon a shaft 12, and the intermediate abutting core 9 upon a shaft 13. These shafts are connected so as to rotate together with their respective cores by means of suitable gears, as indicated in Figs. 1 and 2 at 61, 62, 63 and 64.

. Projections or wings, such as 14, 15 and 16,

are provided on the cylinder cores 6, 7 and 8, respectively. The projections may be secured to their respective cylinder cores by any suitable means. i

lnlet valves of the rotary type, as shown at 17, 18 and 19', are mounted sow as to be rotated in unison with the cylinder cores Vby means of gears such as 65, 66, 67 and 68,

vshown in Figs. 1 and 2. Surrounding these rotary valves I have provided cylindrical valve casings, as shown at 20, 21 and 22 in Figs. 2 and 3, which may be oscillated by means of the reversing lever 69 which operates the same through segments and gears 70, 71 and 72, shown in Figs. 1 and 2. The cylindrical valve casing 20 is provided with openings 23, 24 and 25 which are so positioned as to register with the openings 38, 39 and 40 in the easin'g or housing 2 as the valve casing 20 is operated by the lever 69, as describe'd. The cylindrical 'valve c'asing 21 is provided with openings 28, 29 and 30 which are adapted to register with the openings 41, 42 and 43 in the casing or housing 2 and the cylindrical valve casing 22 is provided with openings 33, 34 and 35 which are adapted to register with the openings 44, 45 and 46 in the casing or housing 2 in a similar manner. A supply pipe 47 Supplies steam by means of the passages 48, 49 and 50 to the steam chests 27, 37 and 32, respectively, from which it is admitted to the 'cylindrical chambers 3, 4 and 5 by means of the inlet valves 17 18 and 19. The admission of the steam to the cylindrical chambers 3, 4 and 5 is determined and Controlled by the position of the cylindrical valve casings' 20, 21 and 22, as will be more fully explained hereinafter.

In one of the end pl'ates inclosing the ends of the cylindrical chambers 3, 4 and 5 eX- haust openings are provided, as indicated at 53, 57 and 60, for each of the said cylindrical chambers. In the cylinder core 6 longitudinal openings, as indicated at 51 and 52, are provided at either side `'of the projection oi' Wing through which when the cylinder core is in such a position that 'either of these 'openings register with the opening 53 in the end plate the steam may be eX- hausted and 'escape from the cylindrical Chamber 3. Similar openings as indicated at 55 and 56 and at 58 and 59 are provided in the cylinder 'cores 7 and 8', which are so positio'ned as to register in a similar manner with the exhaust openings 57 and 60, respectively. If more than one set of cylinders are used in the same engine similar exhaust openings may be provided in the several end plates, as indicated at 73 and 74 in Figi. 2;

In Fig. 3 the several core's are shown ina position in which the steam is operating ex'- pa-nsively in the twolower cylinders and the exhaust has just opened and closed in the upper cylinder. The several valves are so connected by means of the valve Operating mechanism already described that the same will open and admit the steam to the inclosure formed on one side of theprojection or wing of each cylinder core just after the same has passed the opening or port from the valve to such inclosure.

The operation of the engine will be clearly understood by reference to Fig. 3. Steam is supplied from the supply pipe 47 through the passages 48, 49 and 50 to the steam chests 27, 37, and 32, respectively. Assuming the cylindrical valve casings 20, 21 and 22 to have been moved to the positions shown in Fig. 3 by means of the Operating lever 69, shown in Fig. l, as already explained, and the projection or Wing 16 from the cylinder core 8 to have just passed the opening or port 44, the valve 19 will at this point be in such 'a position that the opening 36 therein provides a passage through which the steam may pass from the steam chest 37 through the opening 46 in the housing, through the opening 33 in the cylindrical valve casing 22 and through the recess 3G in the rotary valve 19 t`o a similar opening 34 in the valve casing 22 and through the opening or port 44 in the housin-g to the inclosure formed von one side of the projection or wing 16. The steam so admitted will cause the cylinder core 8 to be rotated in the 'directi'on indicated by the arrows thereon and this movement will b'e communicated to the valve 19 by means of the valve Operating mechanism shown in Fig. 1, causing the same to shut off the steam supply from the steam chest 37. The steam now operates expansively and rota-tes the cylinder core 8 until the longitudinal opening 59 therein registers with the exhaust opening allowingthe steam to escape. The cylinder core 8will continue to rotate, as the remaining cylind'ersv are Operating in similar manner, thus closin'g the exhaust between 59 and 60 while the projection or `wing 16 is passing through the recess in the intermediate abutting core 9, which has been rotated 'at the same time by means of the intermediate communicating gears shown in Figs. 1 and 2. As the rotary movement of the cylinder core 8 is continued the 'second exhaust of the opening 58 will be brought into register with the eXhaust opening 60 and allow any remaining steam to escape and also preventing the cushioni'ng 'effect which might be produced by the compression of the air or steam remain-ing in the cylindrical Chamber 5. As the projecti'on or wing 16 again pa's'ses the port opening 4'4 the valve 19 will have again rea'ched the position in which the steamis admitted and the same' operation is repeat'e'd.

IVhile the aboveoperation has been taking place in the cylindrical chamber 5 a similar operation has been going on in the cylindrical chambers 3 and 4, the position of the several parts and the operation of the valves being so timed and arranged that the cylinder core 6 will be'in its cycle of movement in the cylindrical chamber 3 when the cylinder core 8 has completed one-third of its cycle of movement in the cylindrical chamber 5 and that the cylinder core 7 will begin its cycle of movement in the cylindrical chamber 4 when the cylinder core 8 has completed two-thirds of-its cycle of movement as described. The steam will be admitted to the cylindrical chamber 3 from the steam chest 27 through the valve 17 and the openings 39, 23, 2(5, 24 and 40; and to the cylindrical chamber 4 from the steam chest 32 through the valve 18 and the openings 43, 29, 31, 28 and 41, the valves 17 and 18 being operated with relation to their respective cylinder cores in the manner described above in connection with the Valve 19.

It will be seen that the operation of the cylinders is successive and also that their respective cycles of movement overlap, thus producing a continuous rotary movement of the engine shaft.

To operate the engine in the reverse direction the valve Operating lever 69 is thrown to its extreme position to the left, as shown in Fig. 1, thus rotating the cylindrical valve casings 20, 21 and 22 in the direction indicated by the arrows in Fig. 3. The openings 24 and 25 in the cylindrical valve casing 20 will not register' with the openings 38 and 39, respectively, the openings 28 and 30 in the cylindrical valve casing 21 with the openings 42 and 43, respectively, and the openings 34 and 35 in the cylindrical valve casing 22 with the openings 45 and 46, respectively. If now the steam be admitted into the steam chests 27, 37 and 32 the valves 17, 18 and 19 Will operate as before, but the steam will be admitted to the inclosure formed in the cylindrical chambers 3, 4 and 5 on the opposite side of the projections or wings 14, 15 and 16, respectively, thus producing a rotation in the reverse direction.

The exhaust openings in the cylinder cores on either side of the projections or wings permit the operation of the engine in the reverse direction, as above described, Without changing the exhaust valve mechanism. This double opening also increases the size and time of the exhaust and thus in a very simple manner I provide an exhaust mechanism which operates without change for either a forward or reverse direction of movemcnt and at the same time avoids the cushioning efi'ect in starting the engine, on account of the fact that one of the exhaust r! openings in the cylinder core will open and close just previous to the admission of the steam. t

It will be understood that the point at which the steam is admitted to the cylindrical Chamber may be varied to meet different requirements and constructions. The most efficient results will be obtained when this opening is so positioned that the steam will be admitted as soon as the projection or Wing has passed out of the recess in the intermediate abutting core. In the drawings this opening has been shown a small distance away from such a point mei'ely for convenience of illustrating the mode of operation of the engine. It will also be understood that my invention may be applied with equally good results to engines designed for use with compressed air and various other sources of power.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely diiferent embodiments of my invention designed without departing from thev scope thereof, I intend that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative merely of an operative embodiment of my invention and not in a limiting sense.

What I claim is z* 1. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of coperating cylinder cores each positioned in a cylindrical Chamber, each of said cores being provided with a projection adapted to be operated upon successively by the entering steam to produce a rotary movement thereof, an intermediate core abutting each of said cylinder cores and provided with a recess therein through which said projections may pass successively as said cores are rotated, means for causing said cores to rotate in unison, and means for controlling the admission of the steam into said cylindrical chambers.

2. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of coperating cylinder cores each positioned in a cylindrical Chamber, said cores being so formed that the steam entering said chambers operates upon each of said cores successively to produce a rotary movement thereof, an intermediate core abutting each of said cylinder cores, and a valve adapted to control the admission of the steam to either one of two of said cylindrical chambers to produce a rotation of said cylinder cores in either direction.

3. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of coperating cylinder cores each positioned in a cylindrical Chamber, said cores being so formed that the steam entering said chambers operates upon each of said cores successively to produce a rotary movement thereof, a common abutting core,

a plurality of valves arranged and adapted to admt the steam to different cylindrical cores for Operating the same in either direction, and means for Operating each of said valves to admit steam to different cylindrical cores to cause the same to rotate in either direction.

et. in a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of coperating cylinder cores each positioned in the cylindrical chamber, said cores being so formed that the steam entering said chamber operates upon each of said cores successively to produce a rotary moveinent thereof, a plurality of valves each adapted to control the admission of steam to either' one of two of said cylindrical chambers to produce a rotation of said cylinder cores in either direction, and means for controlling the exhaust of the steam from said chambers.

5. In a rotary engine, the combination of a plurality of coperating cylinder cores 'each positioned in a cylindrical chamber,

said cores being so formed that steam enterng said chainbers operates upon each of said cores to produce a rotary movement thereof, and a plurality of rotary valves each having cylindrical chambers operates upon said cores to cause a rotary niovement thereof, said several sets of cores and the several cores of each set being arranged to operate successively as the steam is admitted, and a plurality of sets of valves each arranged and adapted to admit steam to said sets of cores and to the several cores of each set successively to cause a continuous rotation of the same.

Signed at New York in the county of New York and State of New York this 12th day of November A. D. 1906.

FREDERCK A. CLEVELAND.

VVitneusses H. B. Coon, LEWIS J. DooLI'rzi'Ln. 

